Members of Croatian 1st Guard Brigade ‘Tigers’ decorated by president

by croatiaweek
October 28, 2020
in News

(Photo credit: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Filip Glas & Dario Andrišek)

ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) – President Zoran Milanovic on Wednesday decorated members of the 1st Guard Brigade, known as Tigers, and the Rakitje Special Unit on the 30th anniversary of their establishment, saying it was time to draw a line and turn to the future.

He said that 30 years after those glorious, tough days in which very few people took part, one could slowly start to draw a line.

Drawing a line doesn’t mean to forget or the end, but to turn to the future, he added.

The present is not great, he said, adding that it was good that everyone was wearing a mask today.

(Photo credit: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Filip Glas & Dario Andrišek)

But we must pass this crisis as people of reason and not be scared more than a decent person should be scared or insecure, aware that we are part of a big puzzle on which an individual does not have much influence, the president said.

In every big trouble and calamity, when people are caught by fear and disbelief, when the Chinese proverb which says that it’s better to be a dog in peacetime than a man in turbulent and insecure times, comes to light, the fate of the majority depends on a few good men, he added.

(Photo credit: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Filip Glas & Dario Andrišek)

Thirty years ago “Croatia was practically defended by people who were sufficiently brave and daring, sufficiently uncompromising, and who wouldn’t be scared, and among those people were you,” he said, thanking the members of the Tigers and the Rakitje Special Unit.

Croatia is a small, but proud and upstanding European state with its plans, ambitions and dreams, the president said. “We dream of success, peace and stability. We dream of a good chance at a peaceful and stable life for our families, ourselves and our nation.”

He also mentioned neighbouring countries with which Croatia is trying, he said, to build normal and good relations, perhaps with minor misunderstandings.

(Photo credit: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Filip Glas & Dario Andrišek)

“And so will it be in future. The rules are clear, the standards apply to all. We wish no one evil and we wish no one malice. We don’t dream of or look forward to anyone’s failure. We only seek that bit of respect, even understanding if you will, which is the basic prerequisite for people to be able to live together and understand each other.”